Scripture Reading: Acts 16:1-40
Once upon a time, I had a student named Lydia. She was the kind of kid every teacher wants in class: joyful, attentive, bright, polite, and curious. She was a stellar student, athlete, and friend, but what I loved most about Lydia was the way she lit up whenever we talked about Jesus.
Interestingly enough, she bears a striking resemblance to the lady from today’s reading, who was “a God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira.” She was listening to those sharing about Jesus when “the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying” (Acts 16:14). Minus the purple cloth thing, my former student reflects these traits to a tee: she is “God-fearing,” an avid listener, and one whose heart has been opened by the Lord to receive and respond to the gospel.
Reflecting on the similarities between these two Lydias made me wonder how our personal lives, our local churches, and the Church at large might benefit from adopting some “Lydian” behaviors.
The Greek verb in the phrase translated as “God-fearing”, seboménē, might also be rendered as “one who devoutly reveres and worships.” My student Lydia’s devotion to the Lord blossomed in school, and I witnessed how it positively impacted everyone around her. And in reading Acts 16, we see how Lydia’s God-fearing heart had the power to inspire a city-wide interest in God. Worshipping in spirit and truth draws people toward Jesus, the Light of the World.
In an era when people seem to have given up listening to one another, students like Lydia remind me that there are still Christ-followers out there who are slow to speak and quick to listen—to each other and to the Lord himself. Because Lydia of Thyatira sat and listened to Paul talking and praying, she was moved to invite him to stay at her house, thus giving him a temporary home base from which to preach the gospel. Imagine what miracles could be set in motion if only we learned to listen more closely to the people around us!
Stop and consider the blessings that proceeded from the opening of Lydia’s heart we read about today—the prisoners set free, the new believers baptized, a movement launched. These events proceeded from the willingness of a God-fearing woman who listened and responded to the Holy Spirit. As a result, the world would never be the same—not just there in first-century Philippi but throughout the Mediterranean region, and eventually, all across the planet.
I get really excited imagining what God can do with the life of my former student Lydia and others like her throughout the world. What impact would it have on God’s kingdom on earth if we aimed to be more devout in our worship of the Lord, if we all practiced the discipline of listening, and if we responded to the miracle of faith God has planted in our hearts? Makes me want to be more like the Lydias and then marvel at what the Lord can do.
Written by Alex Florez
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9 thoughts on "Lydia"
KIMBERLY – beautiful, thank you! ❤️
Attention getting –
13 ….we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
-they were staying in the city and purposefully sought out the people, and prioritized talking with the women. Seek and speak (RHONDA J ❤️)
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29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
-a result of being beaten and thrown into prison was an entire household coming to Christ. We may not know what God’s up to, but it is ultimately for good.
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Agreeing with TINA on finding myself getting sidetracked. I was reminded of my car’s GPS that goes crazy from time to time. One of its favorite tricks is to forget where the road is – map correctly shows the road I’m on, but shows me as driving down the ditch on the other side of the road! Eventually it straightens itself out … parallel to me many times. Lord, may I recognize quickly when I’m veering off track, in the ditch so to speak, needing to realign with You and Your word as my GPS – God’s Positioning System.
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Continuing to pray for the teens, and for my family member – major setback over the weekend :(
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WENDY B ❤️ thankful for successful surgery. Praying for swift recovery.
MARTHA HIX ❤️
JOY ❤️
RACHEL ❤️ “I’ve been struggling with guilt and shame about past choices and mistakes. ….. reminded me about the goodness and graciousness of a king who is in constant pursuit of us.” He is also the King who forgives our sins, Hallelujah! When my lengthy list of forgiven & forgotten by God sins pushes in, I start praying the truth I know. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
SANDI S praying for grandson’s healthy arrival, and mama’s smooth delivery ❤️
KELLY (NEO) praying for K and J’s marriage journey ❤️ Thankful those house projects are getting done, woohoo! Praying for guidance when he starts his search, and praying for young mama as she starts the new job and her new start overall
TINA ❤️
Early Bird CEE GEE ❤️ Listening Lydias
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NINA S ❤️ Welcome!
Listen – Open – Respond
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I sat by the water, the world in my hands,
Purple threads woven from distant lands.
A merchant, a seeker, a quiet soul,
Still longing for something to make me whole.
I worshiped in silence, I prayed with care,
Not knowing how close He already was there.
Then came the word — not forced, but free,
And something awakened, deep in me.
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It wasn’t thunder, it wasn’t flame,
Just truth wrapped gently in Jesus’ name.
A door swung open inside my chest,
And peace poured in — a welcomed guest.
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Not just belief, but a spark, a start,
The Lord reached in and opened my heart.
No bargain, no striving, no secret code,
Just grace that found me.
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So I opened my home, as He opened my eyes,
And watched as faith began to rise.
Bread was broken, stories shared,
And love took root because someone cared.
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I wasn’t loud, I wasn’t grand,
Just a woman with space and an open hand.
But God used it all — the simple, the small —
To build a church within my walls.
The Scripture tells us that:
Lydia’s HEART was in the right place – she WORSHIPED GOD.
Lydia was PHYSICALLY in the right place – honoring the Sabbath.
Paul and his missionary team had a divine appointment with Lydia and the women gathered there by the river.
She heard, she responded, she was baptized, and she excitedly opened her home to the missionaries. What a beautiful picture of conversion!
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ALEX FLOREZ – thank you for sharing about your student and encouraging us by her example.
From Gotquestionsdotorg:
“Lydia’s conversion marks the start of a new epoch in the Bible. Up to that point, the gospel had not gone further west than Asia Minor. In fact, on this journey, Paul’s original intention had been to stay in Asia, but God had changed his plans. The Lord sent Paul a vision calling him westward across the Aegean Sea and into Macedonia (Acts 16:6–10). Lydia, although a native of Asia Minor, is the first person recorded to have been saved in Europe.
The story of Lydia in the Bible is a great example of God’s providence and His care for believers. Lydia was a worshiper of God but, like Cornelius in Acts 10, had not yet heard the gospel. God rerouted Paul and friends and also ensured that Lydia would be in the right place at the right time to encounter Paul and hear the good news of Jesus. And, as Lydia heard the gospel, God opened her heart so that she received the life-giving message. In this story, so full of divine intervention, we see the sovereignty of God in salvation; as Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). We also see the immediate bond that a new believer has with other believers in Christ—Lydia showed hospitality to those who brought the good news, and she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
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May we all be ‘ listening Lydias’ today and everyday.
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TINA- Thanks for sharing about the Proverbs 31 woman of excellence. Great reference! ❤
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SEARCHING, WENDY B, INDIANA ELAINE – praying for each of these recovery needs!
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Love, hugs, and prayers, SHES! ❤
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A woman of influence and wealth, yet feared the God of the Jews. Like Peter to Cornelius, God sent Paul to where she was so that she could hear how to become a part of His family.
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WENDY B – happy to hear surgery went well. Praying for your recovery to be smooth too.
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Hope you all have a great day.
Amen❤️
to His wonder? If I did, who and what would that have an impact with / on?
Yesterday, our pastor’s sermon spoke of the question, “Are you allowing yourself to stand in the wonder of God and be trembled?”
In relation to Lydia’s story, am I consistently listening and responding c
There isn’t much said about Lydia, in Acts, not really, and yet what we do know or are told is enough to get the measure of her..
She listened.
She was open.
She was ready.
She wanted to be baptised
She worshipped God.
She wanted to share.
She believed.
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Proverbs 31, tells us of a woman whose characteris one of love and grace for her family and those around..
She gets up early.
She brings home food.
She plants vineyards.
She keeps busy.
She knows the value of everything.
She is generous.
She is strong, respected.
She speaks with wisdom..
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I felt Lydia was a proverbs 31 woman with a little (BIGGER) and much, much more!
She had the qualities, she just needed to hear about the provider of those qualities.. she already had a heart for God, but she needed to hear about Jesus, Son of God..
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BUT GOD..
HE had His eye on His sparrow, and at the right time, opened her heart to truly hear, and be baptised..
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I think, on occasion, I get side tracked and forget that I need to hear, to renew my thinking or my being and or my actions, today’s devotional is a sobering reminder that I can’t do life in my own strength but on every Word that comes from God.. through reading or hearing and being in His Word daily, moment by moment..
May we always, no matter the hour, be ready to be re-newed, re-storied and re-minded through hearing and being present …
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AMEN.
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Happy Monday my beautiful people, be blessed today and throughout the week, whatever you are doing..
Those back to school, extra blessings and hugs being prayed over you..❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️